Shop ’n Save remodels, rebrands stores

Wednesday

Mar 26, 2014 at 11:06 AMMar 26, 2014 at 9:40 PM

By Tim LandisBusiness Editor

Three local Shop ’n Save supermarkets are the first of 45 stores in Illinois and Missouri to take on a new look and hometown marketing theme, including displays of historic photos and renaming aisles after local streets.

Simultaneous ribbon-cuttings were conducted Wednesday at 1501 S. Dirksen Parkway, 200 North Grand Ave. E. and 1755 Wabash Ave. The Wabash store is in the village of Jerome. Each included a $1,500 donation to local food pantries.

The local stores opened at the same time in 1984.

“We’re trying to show how local we’ve been for 30 years,” said Tim Brillhart, director of the Dirksen Parkway store. “We’re one of the oldest names in Springfield now.”

In addition to Springfield-themed stores, the updates include expanded sections for fresh produce, pet foods, organic foods and gluten-free products. Aisles have been widened and energy-efficient lighting installed.

Pat Hildebrand, vice president of merchandising for the St. Louis-based chain, said all 45 stores eventually would take on the new look.

“This is our new, fresh look that we’ll roll out as we remodel stores,” said Hildebrand “It’s ongoing. Every year, we remodel stores.”

Each of the local stores has about 100 employees, said Hildebrand.

The Dirksen Parkway location is a little more than a block south of the planned site of a Schnucks supermarket at Dirksen and Singer Avenue. Brillhart, who has worked in the local grocery business for three decades, said the heavily traveled area draws from well beyond the east side of Springfield.

“We get folks from the neighborhood,” said Brillhart. “We also get them from Rochester, Chatham, Riverton and the folks out on the lake (Lake Springfield).”

In addition to Schnucks’ plans for two new stores in Springfield — the other would be at Chatham Road and Washington Street — Hy-Vee is scheduled to open in late spring on MacArthur Boulevard.

Shop ’n Save district manager Billy Green, who oversees 15 Illinois stores, said the Springfield and Jerome locations are ready to compete.

“We did this for our customers and for our future customers,” said Green. “I think our customer service leads anybody in the market.”